Saint Mary's beacon. [volume] (Leonard Town, Md.) 1867-1983, 1887-07-21
THE LAND OF TIBET.

country 10 UOEdeieo W 1ne soutA 1AH'
cipally By the Himalayan mountain
ranges, which stretch 1000 miles in
longitudinal chains, and also by q
system Of meredianal chains wing
across a further stretch of about $50
miles, at right angles to the Himal-
ayas. The region is highest Cd the
North, its loftiest lakeland, the Ling
zi-tang plateau-which lies between
Eastern Turkistan and Ladak-rising
TO the enormous altitude of II 600
feet above the sea level. This pla-
team abuts against the Kun Lun
ranges which constitute the northern
scarp, as the Himalayas the southern,
Of what is probably the greatest ex-
isting protuberance above the general
l,-yel Of the earth's crust. Thu re-
plon presents many interesting geo.
graphical problems which are eugag-
ing the labors Of scientific explorers,
tDt the inhospitable tribes who in
habit il constitute a guard to its sc.
crets not yet overcome and less is
probably known Of it than Of Central
Africa.
vt the last meeting of the Royal
Geographical Society, If London, a
paper was read Oh the geography OF
mat region in which an interesting
i..ount was given of the travel of a
missionary, whose observations though
published years ago, were until re-
rcutly overlooked by geographers.
In 1852 the Able Krick, a priest
- the French Roman Catholic mission
Northern India, succeeded il max
ing his way into the Mishmi region
Of Tibet.
NJ Krick prepared himself for the
Quincy by acquiring a sufficient
knowledge of the Mishmi langu ge to
enable him to converse freely with
the Mishmis, without the aid # an
Interpreter. The English Ollie ais in
vper Assam did all in their lower
~ help him, gave him presents to
,.anialiatc tie Mishmis, and On the
iv'ure Of his efforts to Undue. any
e amcse TO take service with nm as
,arriors Of his goods and supplies Of
food for the Journey, they induced a
hnmptl chiettain, Chowsam G0hain
who had previously been employed in
cndeavoring to open up communica-
tons with Tibet, to ACCOMPANY him
AMI furnish him with Mishmi porters.
They started from Sadiya in De-
rember, 1851, "a party" he say, "ot
seventeen travellers in all, not i7clud-
ing the dog l.orrain, who ran n in
front. They followed the cour.e OF
the Loht Brahmaputra, in some PARTS
traverSing the bed Of the river, and
having to spring ike acrobats across
great boulders, in other parts making
their way along either bank, scramb.
ling oEer preciplces or cutting paths
lui themselves through dense forest
and Jungle. They had frsquer " to
ross the river by suspension bridges
Of single cane, along which the
traveller has to pass, his body resting
IN 4 cradle attached by a ring L the
cane down which he shoots RAPIDLY
TO the lowest point midway, AMI then
nolsts himself. laboriously climbing
with both hands and feet, up tie rise
to the opposite bank happily, his
i,re all the while looks up to the sky,
and away from the roaring torrent
below. NJ. krIck says that tLe first
time he ventured on this means OF
transit, and placed himself in the
cradle, he felt like man putting a
cord around his own neck: tut on
arriving safe and sound upon the op-
'os'te shore, without ever feeling the
,o-SIbllity OF fall, he reproached
H.mselt for his mistrust of Nishmi
bridges.
He gives a most vivid account OF
the Lohit Brshmaputa. He de RIDES
The river as descending from noun
H'ns to the northeast, through 4 chan
n"l which resembles a narrow cleft
between two towering pinnacles; he
''~''tes 10 It's great water power, the
irresistible impetuosity of its course,
he wild beauty Of its banks, and the
laundering roar with which it syartles
Ire surrounding solitudes: l. DIES.
-r'bSS its bAd in the Mishmi h.lls as
=. too narrow 10 contain the volume
50 water thus it does not flow. but
bounds fnrlously its surface is every.
where a sheet OF white foam, ave in
we intervals OF comparative aim,
where !: seems to slumber II deep
pools under the shadows of huge trees
wan>c verdure is mirrored in its sur.
'l-e.
The presents with which he had